Cooling Storage Container for Perishable Items

ABSTRACT

A cooling storage container for any of various perishable items, particularly food products. The cooling storage container includes a base on which a perishable item can be positioned, and a lid removably securable to the base so as to enclose the perishable item therein. The base includes a flat upper surface and a channel on the periphery thereof that is adapted to receive an edge of the lid therein. The base includes a slot in which a tray filled with dry ice or other material can be removably positioned. A fan is also positioned within the base and is adapted to create airflow so as to cool the interior of the cooling storage container through one or more vents disposed on the upper surface of the base to preserve the perishable item therein.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/149,842 filed on Apr. 20, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage containers. More specifically, the present invention provides cooled perishable item storage containers for maintaining a perishable items such as baked goods, produce, and other types of food as well as beverages and medicine at a cool temperature to prevent spoilage thereof.

Perishable items such as food, beverages, and medications must be kept cool in order to extend the shelf life thereof and to prevent spoilage. As a result, many perishable items are stored in coolers or refrigerators. However, such perishable items may consume considerable space within a refrigerator, which can be undesirable. Further, during a party, gathering, or other event it may be desirable to leave a perishable food item out on a table so that it can be readily accessed by the partygoers. Continually retrieving food and beverages from the refrigerator and placing the items back into the refrigerator can be tiresome and impractical.

This is particularly true for baked goods, such as pies or cakes. Many pies, cakes and other similar baked goods are made with cream, eggs and other dairy products that can spoil if left at room temperature for an extended period of time. However, it is desirable to leave the food out for display or for easy access thereto. If the user has to deliver or transport the baked good, the user may worry that the baked good will spoil during transportation if the user lacks means for keeping the food item at a cool temperature.

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to food storage containers. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to cooling food storage containers, such as U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2011/0226659, U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,434, U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,610, U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,668, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,295,478.

These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. The devices in the prior art fail to provide means for actively cooling a perishable item stored within a container so as to maintain the item at a cool temperature to inhibit spoilage thereof. The devices in the prior art fail to disclose the use of dry ice in combination with a fan in order to cool the interior volume of a storage container.

In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing perishable item storage devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of storage container devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new storage container for perishable products wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when actively cooling a perishable item stored within a container.

The present invention provides a storage container for a perishable item comprising base on which a perishable item can be positioned for storage and a lid removably securable over the base so as to enclose the perishable item therein. The base includes a peripheral channel for receiving the lower edge of the lid so as to create a seal between the lid and base. The base includes a slot in which a tray that can be filled with dry ice is removably positioned. A fan is disposed within the base and is adapted to create airflow from the tray to the interior of the container. The base is removably covered via a lid having sidewalls and a closed upper end so as to define an interior volume in which perishable products can be stored.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the cooling storage container having the lid removed therefrom.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the cooling storage container with the lid secured thereon.

FIG. 3 shows a side cross sectional view of the cooling storage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the cooling storage container. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for maintaining a perishable items, such as food, beverages, and medicine at a cool temperature and preventing spoilage thereof. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown perspective views of the cooling storage container with the lid removed and secured, respectively. The cooling storage container 11 comprises a base 12 on which a perishable item can be positioned for storage, and a lid 16 that is removably securable to the base 12 so as to define a storage space for enclosing the perishable item therein.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base 12 comprises a circular configuration so as to have a similar shape to the shape of a perishable product to be placed thereon, such as a pie or cake. However, in alternate embodiments, the base 12 has a square or rectangular shape so as to receive a square or rectangular cake or the like thereon. The base 12 includes a flat upper surface 20 on which a perishable item can be positioned for storage. Preferably, the base 12 has a greater width or diameter than the item to be placed thereon.

The base 12 includes a central area 13 on which a perishable item is positioned, wherein a channel 19 is disposed around the central area 13 so as to not interfere with the positioning of the perishable item. Thus, the channel 19 is disposed around the periphery or perimeter of the upper surface 20 of the base 12. The channel 19 is a recessed area forming a loop or ring around the base 12 on the upper surface 20 thereof. The channel 19 is adapted to receive the lower edge 17 of the lid 16 therein. In this way, the lid 16 can be secured to the base 12 so as to create a seal therewith. The channel 19 also helps to prevent the lid 16 from moving out of position or moving from the base 12 during transportation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 16 comprises a cylindrical configuration. The lid 16 comprises one or more upstanding sidewalls and a closed upper end 18. The upper end 18 includes a handle in some embodiments so as to facilitate positioning of the lid 16 by the user. The lower edge 17 of the lid 16 is shaped so as to fit within the channel 19 on the base 12 of the cooling storage container 11. The lid 16 is preferably configured so that it is a similar cross sectional area as the base 12. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the lid 16 has a circular cross sectional area adapted to mate with the circular base 12. However, in alternate embodiments, the lid 16 may have a dome shape as opposed to a cylindrical shape. In embodiments having a square or rectangular base, the lid 16 comprises a square or rectangular cross section so as to mate therewith. The lid 16 is preferably composed of an insulating material so as to prevent heat from transferring therethrough and into the interior of the cooling storage container 11. Preferably, the lid 16 is composed of a transparent or translucent material so that the user can identify the perishable item stored within the container without having to remove the lid 16 therefrom. In some embodiments, the lid 16 further includes one or more apertures 21 thereon that allow air to escape the interior volume of the container so as to prevent the perishable item from becoming too cold.

The base 12 further includes a slot 22 on a sidewall thereof that provides access to an interior volume of the base 12. The slot 22 is adapted to removably receive a tray 23 in which a cooling material 40, such as dry ice can be stored. The upper surface 20 of the base 12 includes at least one vent 26 thereon through which air may flow so that air cooled by the dry ice 40 can flow into the interior volume of the cooling storage container 11. The vent 26 includes movable slats 24 that can be adjusted via a dial 25 so that the user can select to open, close, or partially open the vent 26 in order to control the amount of airflow therethrough. Preferably, the vent 26 is located near the periphery of the base 12 so as to not be covered by a perishable item stored on the upper surface of the base 12.

In some embodiments, the interior volume of the base 12 further comprises a fan 27 adapted to promote airflow and help to distribute cooled air within the tray 23 through the vent and to the storage area of the cooling storage container 11. The fan 27 is preferably affixed to the underside of the upper surface of the base 12 so as to be located directly above the tray when the tray is inserted into the slot of the base 12. The fan 27 is controlled via a motor (not shown) wherein the motor is used to drive the fan 27. In some embodiments, the motor allows the fan to be driven at various speeds to further allow the user to control the degree of cooling.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a side cross sectional view of the cooling storage container. In operation, a perishable item can be placed on the central area 13 of the base 12. The lid 16 is removably positioned over the perishable item so as to define a storage area in which the perishable item is enclosed. The lower edge 17 of the lid 16 engages with a channel 19 disposed on the base 12 so as to secure the lid 16 in position on the base 12.

The base 12 comprises a slot on a sidewall thereof, wherein a tray 23 is removably positioned within the slot so that the tray 23 is disposed within the interior volume 28 of the base 12 when inserted within the slot. The tray 23 is preferably filled with a cooling material, such as dry ice, so as to provide a cooling effect on the perishable item stored within the storage area of the cooling storage container 11. A fan 27 is further provided within the interior volume 28 of the base 12 so as to promote airflow from the interior volume 28 of the base 12 to the storage area. This helps to move cooled area adjacent to the cooling material to the area in which the perishable item is stored. The air flows through one or more vents 26 disposed on the upper surface of the base 12, wherein the vents 26 include movable slats 24 that help to control the amount of airflow provided therethrough.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) A cooling storage container, comprising: a base having an interior volume and an upper surface on which a perishable item can be positioned for storage; a lid having upstanding sidewalls and a closed upper end, wherein the lid is adapted to be positioned over the base so as to define a storage space; wherein the base includes a slot that removably receives a tray adapted to be filled with a cooling material; wherein the upper surface of the base includes one or more vents thereon so as to allow air to flow from the interior volume of the base to the storage area so as to cool the perishable item therein. 2) The cooling storage container of claim 1, wherein the lid is composed of an insulating material. 3) The cooling storage container of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a circular configuration and wherein the lid comprises a cylindrical configuration. 4) The cooling storage container of claim 1, further comprising a fan disposed within the interior volume of the base, wherein the fan is adapted to promote airflow from the interior volume of the base to the storage area. 5) The cooling storage container of claim 1, wherein the one or more vents comprises one or more movable slats adapted to control the amount of airflow therethrough. 6) The cooling storage container of claim 5, wherein the movement of the one or more movable slats is controlled via a dial disposed on the exterior of the base. 7) The cooling storage container of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises one or more apertures thereon adapted to allow air to flow therethrough. 8) The cooling storage container of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a channel on the upper surface thereof that is configured to removably receive a lower edge of the lid therein. 9) A cooling storage container, comprising: a base having an interior volume and an upper surface on which a perishable item can be positioned for storage; a channel disposed on the upper surface of the base on a peripheral portion thereof; a lid having upstanding sidewalls, and a closed upper end wherein a lower edge of the lid is removably securable within the channel so as to enclose a perishable item positioned on the base within a storage area; wherein the base includes a slot in which a tray can be removably positioned, wherein said tray is adapted to be filled with a cooling material; a fan disposed within the interior volume of the base, wherein the fan is adapted to promote airflow from the interior volume of the base into the storage area. 